President Donald Trump has fired the leaders of the National Security Agency (NSA) in a major shakeup.
The high-level move was driven by the Trump administration’s plans to purge officials viewed as insufficiently loyal to the president’s “America First” agenda.
On Friday, two Biden appointees, Gen. Timothy Haugh and civilian Deputy Wendy Noble, were given the chop from their roles as director and deputy director of the NSA.
Trump appointed Lt. Gen. William Hartman, who also leads U.S. Cyber Command, to serve as acting director.
Sheila Thomas will take over as deputy.
Hartman previously commanded the Cyber National Mission Force and has served in intelligence, cyberspace operations, and infantry roles during deployments around the world.
Thomas most recently headed NSA’s cryptologic partnership with the U.K. and served as director of engagement and policy at NSA.
The shake-up comes amid growing concerns about the loyalties of some members of Trump’s national security team.
White House advisor Laura Loomer met with Trump this week to share her “research” on officials she believes should be fired.
As Loomer pointed out on X, both Haugh and Noble were Biden appointees.
She seemingly took credit for the firing.
Loomer warned that Haugh had “no place” in the Trump administration because he was “hand-picked” by former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley.
“Why would we want an NSA Director who was referred to Biden after being hand selected by Milley,” Ms. Loomer wrote.
“Why would we want Milley’s hand-picked choice for NSA DIRECTOR?
“We do not! And he was referred for firing.”
The White House and NSA have not confirmed whether Loomer had influenced the president’s decision.
Trump also fired several National Security Council (NSC) staffers on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters about the firings, Trump said:
“We’re going to let go of people we don’t like, or people we don’t think can do the job, or people who may have loyalties to somebody else.”
He confirmed that NSC members had been fired.
However, Trump remarked that it was not many individuals.
The NSA shuffle also came after Trump recently fired C.Q. Brown, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former chief of naval operations.
Meanwhile, Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz remains under fire over the corporate media’s “Signal-gate” story.
However, the White House has insisted Waltz’s job is not under threat.
In brief remarks outside the White House’s press room on Monday afternoon, Karoline Leavitt told the media:
“As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team.
“And this case has been closed here at the White House, as far as we are concerned.”
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